Combined draft and power take-off unit



- Nov. 2 1, 1944.

R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,363,071 COMBINED DRAFT AND POWER TAKE-OFF UNIT Filed March ll 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lc TbuI- neau,

Nov. 21, 1944. R. G. LE TOURNEAU COMBINED DRAFT AND POWER TAKE-OFF UNIT Filed March 11 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEATUR 18.6. LeTournea Patented Nov. 21, 1944 2,363,371 COMBINED DRAFT AND POWER TAKE-OFF UNIT Robert G. LeTourneau, Peoria, 1ll., assignor to R. G; Le Tourneau, Inc., a corporation Application March 11, 1942, Serial No. 434,217

5 Claims.

This invention relates in general to improvements in the power and draft connections between a tractor and trailing implement which carries power controlled instrumentalities, and in particular theinvention is directed to, and the principal object is to provide, a unique structure which combines the power and draft connections in a compact, enclosed unitary assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination power and draft connection, as above, which includes a ball and socket unit mounted in part on the tractor and in part in connection with the tractor whereby to permit of independent tilting and rocking of the tractor and implement when in motion; there being a power take-off shaft extending from the tram-- tor and driving through said ball and socket unit, said shaft having a universal joint therein within the ball and socket unit.

'A further object is to provide a draft connection between a tractor and implement, which includes a yoke extending forwardly from the implement to a single universal connection with the tractor; there being a power control unit orcable which mounted on said yoke andbeing driven by power transmission means extending from the tractor through said nection.

It is also an object to mount the power control unit, as in the preceding paragraph, at such point on the yoke, and to arrange the yoke and universal consaid universal connection so that regardless of the angle of draft betweenthe tractor and implement the hand levers to control said unit are within easy and convenient reach of the operators seat on the tractor.

An' additional object of the invention is to provide a draft connection which includes a yoke or the like secured to and projecting forwardly from the implement, a rigid vertical post fixed on the front end of said yoke, and a ball and Figure 1 is a side elevation of the combined draft and power take-off unit in connected re-' lation between a wheeled tractor, and an earth working scraper.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the ball and socket unit and enclosed drive mechanism as mounted between the tractor frame and rigid vertical post.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral I indicates a wish-bone type co ecting yoke v pivoted at its rear ends at laterally spaced points 2 on the forward end of a wheel supported implement, which in the present instance isshown as an earth scraper 3; raising and lowering movement of the scraper at the forwardend to control the movement of the cutting blade 4! to and from digging to carrying position being accomplished through the medium of a cable actuated lift control mechanism, generally indicated at 5, and which may be of the type shown. in detail in my Patent No. 2,288,630, dated July 7, 1942. V 1

A vertical tubular post 6 is fixed on the forward end of the yoke l, which is in effect a draft tongue; such post at its upper end terminating adjacent but above the yoke and terminating at its lower end some distance below the yoke. The post 6 is spaced from but overhangs a hori zontal sheet steel deck I or, top of the transmission housing, which is included in theflframe 8 of the tractor having rear supporting wheels 9 and an operators seat In mounted on the frame adjacent but ahead of deck I.

A ball and socket unit is mounted between the lower' end of post 6' and deck I, and comprises a ball member H formed with an upstanding ,tubular neck l2 which projects into the lower of the bore of post 6 are staged as shown to socket connecting between the lower end of said post and the tractor frame at the rear.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such prevent undesirable axial telescoping action and the neck and post are secured together against relative rotation by means of a cross bolt 13.

The ball ll seats in a segmental socket unit I4 mounted on deck I by means of cap screwsl5 which extend through cooperating .radial flanges I6 of the unit, the deck having a circular opening "through which the lower circular portion of the socket unit depends. t

A sealing or dust boot ll of v flexible material extends in encircling relation between neck l2 immediately below .the lower end. of the post and the upper portion of the socket unit above the uppermost radial flange [6. This boot may shaft 23 extends through the tubular post 6 and neck l2 having a separable spline arrangement 24 interposed therein adjacent but above the upper end of neck I 2. The lower end of shaft 23 and the upper end of shaft l9 are connected together within ball chamber 25 by means of a universal toggle joint 25.

A power control unit or power winch, indicated generally at 25, is mounted with its axis vertical, on the upper end of tubular post 6, adj acent portions of the power control unit and post being flanged as at 2'! and detachably secured together by bolts 28. The upper end portion of shaft 23, which is in effect a stub shaft, extends into the power control unit and is there connected in driving relation with the drive pinion 29 of such unit. The power control unit is arranged with control levers 30 which project forwardly and horizontally in overhanging relation to deck 'I and to a point adjacent seat I 0. Each cable drum 3| of the power control unit 26 is likewise disposed with its axis horizontal and the cable 32 runs therefrom rearwardly to the first sheave 33 of the tilt control mechanism 5, and which sheave is disposed adjacent and in substantially the same horizontal plane as drum 3!.

In operation the combined draft and power take-off assembly functions to permit the tractor and trailing implement to independently follow ground contours; i. e., tilt or rock relative to each other without binding or straining; this action being accomplished by the use of the ball and socket arrangement between the post 6 on the yoke and deck I of the tractor.

At the same time power is transmitted to the power control unit 26 through the assembly of post 6 and the'ball and socket unit by means of shafts I9 and 23 coupled within the' ball and.

socket unit by toggle joint 25; the universal action of thelatter permitting such transmission of power regardless of the position of the ost 6 and ball ll relative to the tractor deck land socket While the implement mounted instrumentality is here shown as being the tilt control unit 5, such instrumentality may be any power actuated member or part of the implement or other trailing vehicle connected to the tractor.

'From the foregoing description it will be read-. ily seen thatI have producedsuch a device as substantially fulfills the objects as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from'such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Havin thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined power and draft connection beof the invention tween a tractor and implement, comprising a tongue pivoted on the implement for relative vertical tilting and extending forwardly, a universal joint connecting the tongue to the tractor, a tilt control mechanism between the tongue and implement, said mechanism including a control cable and normally maintaining the tongue in rigid relation to the implement, a cable winch mounted on the tongue and to which winch said cable is connected, and power transmission mechanism connected between the tractor and said winch, said mechanism in part extending through said universal joint and being arranged for universal movement therewith.

2. In combination with a ground working im plement adapted to be drawn'by a tractor, a forwardly projecting draft unit pivoted on the forward end of the implement for relative vertical tilting, said draft unit being arranged at its forward end for coupling with the tractor in draft relation, a tilt control mechanism connected between the implement and draft unit, said tilt control mechanism beingcable actuated and in-. cluding a cable extending forwardly above the draft unit, a power winch mounted on and above the draft unit adjacent its forward end, said cable being connected with the winch, and power transmission mechanism supported in part on said draft unit and arranged to connect the tractor in driving relation with the winch when said draft unit is coupled to-said tractor.

3. In combination with a ground working implement adapted to be drawn by a tractor, a forwardly projecting draft unit pivoted on the forward end of the implement for relative vertical tilting, said draft unit being arranged at its forward end for coupling with the tractor in draft relation, a tilt control mechanism connected between the implement and draft unit, said tilt control mechanism being cable actuated and including a cable extending forwardly above the draft .unit, the draft unit including an upstanding, tubular post fixed thereon at its forward end, a power winch mounted on the upper end of said post, said cable being connected with the winch, and power transmission mechanism including a shaft extending downwardly through said post arranged to connect the tractor in driving relation with the winch when said draft unit is coupled to said tractor.

4. In combination with an implement adapted to be drawn by a tractor, the implementincluding a cable actuated instrumentality, a forwardly projecting draft unit secured to the implement at the front, said draft unit including an upstanding tubular post at its forward end, means to couple said post at its lower end to the tractor, an initially separate power winch including a depending stub shaft, means removably mounting the winch on top of said post with the stub shaft depending thereinto, a cable connecting'said in strumentality on the implement and the winch, and power transmission mechanism arrangedto connect the tractor in driving relation with said stub shaft when said draft unit is coupled to the tractor; said power transmission mechanism instanding tubular post at its forward end, means to couple said post at its lower end to the tractor, an initially separate power winch including 9. depending stub shaft, means removably mounting the winch on top of said post with the stub shaft depending thereinto, said means including enlarged matching flanges on adjacent portions of the post and winch'detachably secured together in supporting and stabilizing relation to said winch, a cable connecting said instrumentality on-the implement and the winch, and power 10 transmission mechanism arranged to connect the tractor in driving relation with said stub shaft when said draft unit is coupled to the tractor; said power transmission including another shaft projecting upwardly into the post from below, and a separable spline connection between adjacent ends of said stub shaft and other shaft within the post.

ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU. 

